The fence will end up being a modern picket fence, We aren't sure if we should grass the two squares or plant it out, it's a nice sunny spot, but we have nosey neighbours that we are trying to make disappear, if then it becomes more private then a seated area could be really nice, Hopefully the right plants will work or we will have to go with plan B, of installing barbed wire and two wild Dobermans!

I agree with havingfun, thicken the supports and have something growing trailing up them. I didn't even notice there was a pergola until the close up. Right now it blends in too well with the house color, consider painting it a different color. I don't know your usda zone but classic climbers for a pergola include clematis, wisteria, grape https://www.houzz.com/photos/santa-ynez-valley-mediterranean-porch-santa-barbara-phvw-vp~2485412 or go for a modern look You can also hang string lights, planters or something from the beams. Also agree lighten the front door.

I had a similar situation replacing a thin porch roof, the down pipes that spoilt the simple lines that the posts and flat roof had, basically down pipes just looked just looked heavy and ugly. I fitted the gutters in level as these are short anyway and don't need a fall, but left off the spouting. Then by suspending a heavy* galvanized chain from the centre of the outlet down into large buckets set into the ground, which is filled with rocks or small lumps of concrete, the water will trickle down the chain. (that is a thicker gauge, not heavy* weight). You might also want to anchor the bottom of each chain onto a lump of concrete. You don't have to anchor the bottom, but you don't want anyone to be encouraged to swing on them. Obviously you won't see the buckets, but do need something to capture the water that runs down the chain. Small holes in the buckets allow water to run out gradually. The chains will hang down straight under there own weight, the look is more 'elegant'. If you get so much rain blowing off the chain that it blows onto the posts or house, it's very likely you won't be standing outside, unless you like getting soaked.

Hi Rachael, Your asymmetrical house form is a very strong visual element and sits very well in this bold and rugged landscape. On the other side of the house from the entry door, the windows and doors are grouped and aligned to create a secondary relationship between them, which pleases the eye and works within the strong form. On the side with the entrance door, this doesn't happen. The scattered size and positioning of the woodstore, windows and doors do not work together to lead the eye to any particular place, nor do they relate to the form of the house. As a starting point, something to draw the eye to the entrance to invite people in will create a secondary focus. Because the house is a very strong form, you want to work with it or complement it, not try to create something that tries to outdo it. You also want something large enough to provide shelter both to keep people from the weather and to make it seem visually welcoming. You have a few materials already in this building, timber and stone, that you can use that will provide a contrast to the corrugate wall but will also make connections with the other parts of the building, and make the shelter become part of the whole rather than look like an afterthought. I would look at creating a porch form with enough visual strength to draw the eye and also try to tie in a few other elements to reduce the scattered look.